Published 9:40 am, Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Residents of Briscoe County on Friday could see part of their county come under the umbrella of the High Plains Underground Water District despite vocal opposition.

Water district directors will meet Friday at the Gayler Evans Room of the Swisher County Memorial Building in Tulia to hold a public hearing followed by a regular board meeting. That’s when they will discuss and possibly act on a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality order recommending that western Briscoe County become a part of HPWP.

Currently, the portion of Briscoe County above the Caprock is not included in any water conservation district.

Since many agriculture producers in that area rely on the Ogallala aquifer for farm irrigation, the TCEQ has formally recommended that it come under the oversight of the water district. However many of the affected landowners, led by Gary Weaks of Silverton, oppose the move. They see it as an issue of property rights, with the state trying to take control of their underground water resources.

Briscoe County commissioners adopted a resolution supporting those landowners and opposing the annexation by HPWD.

Initially, TCEQA considered creating a separate underground water conservation district for Briscoe County, but ultimately rejected that idea as both expensive and impractical. For years, the state has been trying to bring all counties that heavily rely on underground water aquifers into conservation districts to promote the most efficient use of those resources.

HPWD directors apparently will have the final say in this dispute between the Briscoe County landowners and the TCEQ recommendation.

Now Playing:

The session gets under way at 10 a.m. with a public hearing concerning rule changes on the registration of some wells that would otherwise be considered exempt. The proposed revision would make that registration optional. It is now required.

The regular session begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday, and will include a public comment period. Those wishing to comment must pre-register those intensions, must limit their comments to items on the agenda and keep their commits to 3 minutes per person.